 By Ray Rivers
February 14th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The baby boom generation has a lot to answer for. How many boomers can recall that epic 1967 movie, ‘The Graduate’. A young Dustin Hoffman was the dazed and aimless anti-hero stuck in a fractured picture of an overabundant American civilization looking for its next drug. And there it was, on the strength of advice from a well-intentioned guest. “Plastics… There’s a great future in plastics”.
 Sifting through debris at a plastic bottle recycling plant has led to the unearthing of a plastic-munching microorganism that can break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The researchers who discovered the bacterium hope that it will provide a new way to recycle PET plastics by breaking them down into their building blocks. Watching the news today it is hard to get beyond the threat to all of us posed by the Coronavirus, recently named COVID-19. A pandemic is an immediate, and acute threat and we are pretty sure that it will peak and then pass. Contrast that with the chronic challenges of global warming and something we’ve heard less about until recently, plastic pollution.
Micro plastic particles are omnipresent in our environment, the air we breathe and the food we ingest. We may not fully comprehend what that means, but it’s not good. Even in the most remote reaches of our oceans, fish now contain significant amounts of plastic in their bodies… and so do we when we eat them. And unlike the nasty COVID-9 virus, which will eventually be gone, the plastic pollution we have created will be with us for a very long time.
Who could have envisioned the potential impact of such a seemingly benign and inert product, developed to improve the state of our lives. Little more than a half century after our young graduate was turned-on to plastic we learn that there is now an island of plastic waste floating in the Pacific Ocean, three hundred kilometres wide and three times the size of France.
Back when they were filming the Graduate the biggest threat to our survival was the bomb and the Soviets. Whoever had thought of this bigger risk to our survival – big fossil fuel? Yes, the very people who are delivering rising sea levels, acidification and warming of the oceans, melting of the polar ice caps, and increased storms are also the same culprits who have given us plastics.
 A huge belt of plastic photographed floating off the coast of the Caribbean island of Roatan, Honduras. Plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade, and its production has doubled every 15 years. So unless we do something radical, by 2050 the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish, ton for ton. Of the billions of metric tonnes of plastic that have been produced, fully 80% goes in the waste bins and over a third of that is ‘single use’ – used once and discarded.
Industry’s claim that plastic can be recycled is largely a myth, since less than 10% is actually recycled. In fact, half of all plastic manufactured becomes trash in less than a year. And eight million tonnes ends up in the ocean every year – the equivalent of five grocery bags of plastic trash for every foot of the planet’s ocean coastline.
The prime minister promised that if re-elected he would ban single use plastic starting next year, but the devil is in the details. To that end the government has just released a scientific assessment of the plastics problem. Besides the potential of government regulations, there is already some action afoot to deal with the problem.
Clearly the place to start is to avoid the use of plastic. To that end many grocery stores are no longer offering plastic bags at cash outs, though a good deal of everything in the stores still comes wrapped in layers of plastic film and sits on trays of single use styrofoam. Many restaurants have switched to paper rather than plastic straws, or just eliminated them entirely. And many customers are refusing to accept plastic bags, when offered, for the products they buy.
Then there are a number of environmental non-profit organizations taking the plastic in their own hands by starting to clean it up. One of these is a Vancouver outfit called Ocean Legacy Foundation. Started in 2014, this organization claims about 25 staff, most of whom are volunteers to clean up the plastic refuse which gets washed ashore on the west coast every day. Since 2015 Ocean Legacy has collected 170,000 pounds of waste plastic from Canada’s western shorelines.
Though not presently operational in the Great Lakes, Ocean Legacy is active in Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama. In addition to hands-on clean ups, the organization has structured a program of information, education and advocacy which they offer to help communities get involved on their own and on their own shorelines. They have received some funding from governments as well private entities, and they do accept online donations.
 The damage plastics in ocean water are doing to the fish we eat. As important as these voluntary clean up actions are, runaway plastic pollution is a problem that drastically needs government regulation. Some of the larger manufacturers of plastic film and other packaging would have you believe they maintain a cradle-to-grave responsible corporate policy, something which was in vogue a few years ago. Yet they are missing in action when it comes to cleaning up the mess they have inadvertently created, since virtually all plastic is created as a product of oil and gas mining. So why are big oil and the plastic manufacturers missing in action when it comes to cleaning up the mess they are responsible for?
Canada has become a highly divided nation. There are those who live in oil producing provinces and then there are the rest of us. That was made evident in the last federal election. The only political party promoting big oil won almost every seat in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
There is a simmering conflict and an emerging political crisis at our doorstep. The political leaders of those oil producing provinces may not personally be in the pockets of the oil companies but they are there to do their bidding as the industry endeavors to extract that very last barrel of bitumen.
The fight will be between the legitimate right of a federal government to protect the health of its citizens and the right of the oil companies and their sub-national political allies to monetize that last grain of bitumen laden sand. And the consequences of failure may well be the kind of protest action we are seeing among indigenous folks today over pipelines.
Plastics may have played a big role in our economic lives over the last sixty years but it has left us with a poisonous legacy. And its future is no longer great, given the unintended consequences of its widespread adoption.
Background links
Draft Science Assessment – Great PacificGarbage Patch – Fish to Humans –
Plastic Waste – PM’s Promise – Swimming Through Pacific Garbage –
Ocean Legacy –
 By Pepper Parr
January 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Senior public officials around the world are going public and doing their best to assure people that the coronavirus is under control when it isn’t but we do know that huge efforts are being made to get it under control.
Public confidence comes from public leaders – which appear to be in short supply at the Regional level.
 Citizens in the United Kingdom wearing masks.  Citizens in Germany wearing masks. The Gazette was in touch with one of the Regional communications advisers on the payroll arranging to interview the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr. Meghani.
She was unavailable. We will come back to that.
We were asked what we wanted to talk to the good Dr. about (Huh!)
The communications adviser was typing most of what we said and sent us the following:
1. Is Halton Region Public Health working with the school board to issue communications to parents? What information will be shared with parents?
• Halton Region Public Health has been in communication with local school boards. We are continuing to work closely with superintendents to ensure that school administrators and families have up-to-date and accurate information.
2. Is coronavirus a public health concern in Halton?
• Halton Region Public Health is coordinating with local hospitals and communicating with key community partners such as physicians, long-term care homes and local school boards. We continue to work closely with provincial and local health counterparts to monitor the situation and assess potential health risk.
• While the risk to individuals in Ontario remains low, residents are encouraged to tell their health care provider if they have travelled to an affected area of China, and develop flu-like symptoms.
3. What should Halton residents know about coronavirus?
• Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause symptoms similar to the common cold, but in some cases can cause severe respiratory illness.
• The best way to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, such as coronavirus is to:
• stay home if you are ill;
• cover coughs and sneezes with your sleeve;
• wash your hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand rub; and
• clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
• Symptoms of 2019-nCoV infection include fever, cough and breathing difficulties. If anyone has these symptoms AND has travelled to Wuhan, China in the 14 days prior to illness onset, OR has had close contact with a person who is suspected or confirmed as having novel coronavirus infection, they should contact Halton Region Public Health immediately by calling 311, 905-825-6000 or toll free at 1-866-442-5866.
• While the risk to individuals in Ontario remains low, residents are encouraged to tell their health care provider if they have travelled to an affected area of China, and develop flu-like symptoms.
 Regional Medical Officer of Health. Dr. Hamidah Meghani Confidence in the leadership is critical when there is concern, fear, edginess about an issue. One can’t but know that there is a serious problem. A large part of China is in lock-down and we know that this virus is spreading.
People want to know what is being done to protect them; a memo doesn’t really cut it. The MOH can do better.
Related news stories:
The MOH knew how to communicate in the past.
By Staff
January 27th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, issued the following statement in response to the first presumptive case of the Wuhan novel coronavirus in Ontario and following a briefing of the province’s directors of education:
“The health and well-being of Ontarians, including and especially our students and school staff, is our number one priority. To that end, earlier today Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, briefed Ontario’s directors of education on the province’s extensive protocols to monitor, detect and contain any cases of the Wuhan novel coronavirus.
Ontario continues to work directly alongside our partners at the Public Health Agency of Canada and local public health units to monitor the situation closely. Newly strengthened protocols for identification and control are working to keep the public safe.
We want to assure students, parents and school communities that officials at the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education are working together in close cooperation with our partners in both the education and health care sectors to ensure the continued safety and well-being of students and staff.”
To help educate Ontarians about Wuhan novel coronavirus, how they can protect themselves and what to do if they suspect they may be at risk, the province has launched a dedicated webpage.
 Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board said in a statement he released to the Gazette last night that he is in “close contact with Halton Region Public Health” and is “jointly working on a communication to school administrators and families” which he expects to have out to these people before the end of the day on Monday.
 By Staff
January 27th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
 Dr. Steven Selchen, Chief of Psychiatry at Joseph Brant Hospital On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Dr. Steven Selchen, Chief of Psychiatry at Joseph Brant Hospital and colleagues invite you to join them on Facebook Live as they have a conversation about mental health and access to programs.
Mental Health is not something that gets the serious attention it needs; many people still want to hide the fact that there are problems within the family.
The hospital is taking a very welcome step in opening up the subject in a way that is less public for those who face mental health issues every day. Kudos to the hospital.
Date: January 29, 2020 Time: 9:00 a.m.
Just log into:
www.Facebook.com/JosephBrantHospital
 By Jeremy Biberdorf
December 17th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Hosting a party is fun and exciting. Whether it’s Christmas, New Year or a special birthday celebration, you get to hang out with all of your favorite people.
 At the very least, you should clear up the dishes and glasses and put them in the dishwasher. However, cleaning up afterwards is not nearly as enjoyable. Ideally, you should clear up as much as you can as soon as the party ends. At the very least, you should clear up the dishes and glasses and put them in the dishwasher. You should also check for any spillages that may be a lot harder to deal with the next day. Here are some other tips to make after party cleaning slightly less of a headache.
Make sure that you have the utensils you need:
Before you start the cleaning process, you should make sure that you have all the utensils and cleaning products that you need. This means that you do not need to run to the store and stock up half way through the process. Items that you may need include:
● Dishwasher tablets.
● Clean and dry cloths.
● Antibacterial spray.
● Kitchen cleaning spray.
● Floor cleaner.
● Polish.
Check what needs to be done and make a list of the items that you need. This helps to make sure that you have all the necessary items.
Let some air in:
Even if no-one was smoking at the party, there is still likely to be a stale smell in the air. You may also be able to smell unpleasant scents such as body odour and stale alcohol.
This is why it’s so important to let some fresh air in. Open doors and windows and use air freshener spray if necessary.
Collect dishes and bottles first
It makes sense to collect dishes, glasses and bottles first. As mentioned earlier, this should ideally be done as soon as the party ends.
 Pour unfinished drinks down the sink and clean any bottles that can be recycled Pour away unfinished drinks and clean any bottles that can be recycled. Dishes and glasses should be emptied and placed in the dishwasher. Remember to check all rooms for dishes and glasses. You would be surprised where people leave things at parties.
Be methodical
Once rooms are emptied of obstructions like dishes, you can clean them. Clean rooms one at a time. You should also plan your cleaning so that you do not trail through rooms that you have already cleaned.
Clean the floors last
Do not clean floors until you have finished all of the other cleaning. This stops you from getting dust and debris on clean floors. Once you start cleaning the floors, vacuum first and then clean wooden floors and wash carpets if necessary.
Get rid of stains as soon as possible
You should try to identify potential stains as soon as the party is over. Doing this makes them easier to deal with. Some stains, such as red wine, present a particular problem. If you encounter a red wine stain, it’s a good idea to use soda water to try and remove it. Add soda water, then blot the stain. You may need to repeat this process several times.
Take care of repairs
Hopefully, everything in your home will be intact after your party. However, accidents do happen. This is why it’s so important to carry out a thorough check for damage, such as cracked ornaments and broken chairs. Repairs should be completed as soon as possible, to prevent them from worsening. Depending on what the damage is you may be able to use one product for all cases of damage.
It’s important to make sure that hosting a party is a fun experience that you remember for the right reasons. Paying attention to these cleaning tips can help make this happen, by removing some of the stress.
Jeremy Biberdorf is a guy with answers to almost any question you have on maintaining a household – be it a 500 sq ft closet in New York or a 2500 sq ft home in the suburbs. Ask him a house maintenance problem and he will have an answer.
 By Pepper Parr
November 3rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
It was the day before the race.
 Ashley Worobec at the airport waiting to board a flight for New York where she will run the New York city marathon.  Spectators can follow the race on-line or if in New York they can chase the runners by using the subway system to keep up. Ashley Worobec and her husband Chris were at the Pearson airport waiting to board their flight to New York. Her parents had travelled to Burlington from Calgary to take care of the two children and the family dog.
Ashley was less than a day away from the starting point of the New York City marathon –a race that includes some 52,000 runners. Next to the Boston Marathon – this is the granddaddy of them all – in the United States. The Race around the Bay has taken place in Canada since 1894 – three years before the Boston Marathon – but we digress.
Ashley has been preparing for this race for the six months. The Gazette has followed her progress during that time.
Why? Ashley put it best when she said “you set a goal, chase your dream and you keep at it day after day.”
Her last marathon was 12 years ago. With a professional practice to keep up and two children the runs were usually when the sun was rising – which was nice in the summer but as the fall weather set in those were dark mornings and often chilly.
The drive, the self discipline, and the example she was setting for her children were all part of what she was setting out to do.
But there was more than that to it. ” The satisfaction in knowing that you could do something few people my age take on was important to me.”
Where to from her? “Don’t want to say – my objective is to run this race.” After that I will do some yoga
While Ashley is running her husband Chris will be scooting between subway stations in New York city to get to the viewing points where he hopes to catch a glimpse of his wife as she runs the race.
The first New York City Marathon was held 49 years ago in September 1970.
That first race had 127 competitors running several loops around the Park Drive of Central Park.
Over the years, the marathon grew larger and larger. During the 1970s, the race was run in September. In the 1990s, the race day was moved to November. The New York City Marathon has now become the largest marathon anywhere in the world. Each year nearly two million spectators line the course.
 Veranzo Bridge – the point on Staten Island where the race begins. The start take place on Staten Island where they leave in waves and head out over the Veranzo Narrows Bridge and head for Manhattan where the race ends at Central Park. It is the largest marathon in the world with 52,812 finishers in 2018
Because of the popularity of the race, participation is chosen largely by a lottery system. Guaranteed entry to the marathon can be gained by satisfying the requirements of the 9+1 program or the 9+$1K program or having completed 15 or more previous NYC Marathons, or meeting time qualification standards.
Ashley met time qualification requirements.
Ashley Worobec is a chiropractor who specializes in sports medicine. A former Boston marathoner, Dr. Worobec often runs the Chilly Half marathon and Around the Bay 30K. She has lived in Burlington for ten years with her husband and their two children.
A 40 year old mother of two children. She was always a runner but when the children came into her life – things changed.
The time needed just wasn’t available.
Her professional life had its own demands.
In 2015 she was one of the Torch carriers in the lead up to the Pan Am Games, which is where we first met Ashley.
 Her time was where she wanted it to be – at this point she began to taper down the length of her runs. Race day was getting closer.  Ashley Worobec – one of a select few invited to carry the Torch that opened the Pan Am Games in Burlington/Hamilton in 2015 When we learned that she had qualified for the New York Marathon we decided to follow her progress. The practice runs, the developing strength and stamina were all part of her work. Throughout she wore a watch that recorded at all. Her last run before tapering down was on October 23rd, when she recorded a run that went … well the results are in the image.
Ashley hope to complete the race in three hours and thirty minutes. She is running with three other women from Burlington who will have husbands in the crowds – that will number in the millions – trying to catch a glimpse as they pass the various checkpoints.
By Ashley Worobec
October 28th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
This time next week I will have completed the New York City Marathon.
One more week to go!
 This is exactly where I want to be a week before race day. My taper is working, and today my watch showed me this fantastic “training status” screen that says “peaking.” This is EXACTLY what the taper is trying to do- the idea is that I worked hard through nearly 20 weeks of training, and now my body is in recovery mode where I can reap the benefits of that hard work.
It is often said that you cannot train too little during a taper, but you can definitely train too much. Over-training is a real concern at this point, as this is the time when runners start to feel antsy, and I’m definitely experiencing that.
My legs feel fresh and rested now and ready to run- and the taper starts to play mind games with you, as your mileage drops so significantly and so quickly, it’s almost as if you feel like you’ve forgotten how to run.
Ahhhh, the mental aspect of distance-running! I have two short runs this week (one 9k and one 8k) and then a quick little 3km on Saturday morning to shake out my legs, and then it’s raceday on Sunday!
My goals in New York are:
1. To enjoy the experience! I will be running with a dear friend of mine and we plan to soak it all in and enjoy the sights and sounds. This is a once-in-a-lifetime for me, and a goal I’ve been chasing for a few years.
2. A Boston qualification time would be nice; for my age group, that means I need to run a couple of minutes under 3 hours 40 minutes.
3. Ideally, I’d like to run under 3 hours, 30 minutes.
 A goal of 3 hours – 30 minutes is well within reach. Is the Boston Marathon in the long range plan? As you can see, this “race predictor” it shows that 3:30 should be well within my reach, but there are so many factors on race day that I can’t control; I’m trying not to get too wrapped up in a time goal. I’ve had many years of competitive running in the past, and my goals have changed now- these days it’s more about fun and fitness and friendships.
 A white pumpkin? We carved pumpkins this weekend and I used a NYC theme; I used a drill bit to shape the holes into the iconic “I love New York” sign. This year I’ll be abstaining from Halloween candy until after the race, as I want to give myself the best chance to perform on Sunday, and dozens of those tiny bite-sized chocolate bars will do me no good!
By Staff
October 25th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Parents/guardians are invited to attend a free evening presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 aimed at addressing the importance of looking after themselves as caregivers in order to look after their loved ones.
The presentation by Michele Sparling is titled “Putting ‘Self’ in Caregiving – How Looking After you Helps You Look After Them”.
 Who is taking care of the care-giver? In this session, parents/guardians and caregivers will hear why self-care is an important part of the regimen of care, what it is, what it is not, and one family’s story of finding room to breathe and reset, in order to be there for their loved ones.
Presented by Community & Parent Partners for Kids (C.A.P.P. for Kids), the event runs from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Gary Allan High School/New Street Education Centre (3250 New St., Burlington). There will be community displays from 6:45 – 7 p.m.
Michele Sparling is a Partner at Innovative HR and has 30 years of in depth experience as a results-oriented senior human resources professional. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration, and a Master of Industrial Relations. She is trained in mediation, facilitation, ASIST, Mental Health First Aid, and as a SocioPsychological Health and Safety Advisor. Michele and her family have lived in the Oakville community for 23 years.
C.A.P.P. for Kids is a partnership between Halton Region, Halton District School Board, Halton Catholic District School Board, Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK), Our Kids Network, Halton Regional Police Service, Ontario Early Years, Burlington Public Library, City of Burlington, and the Halton Multicultural Council.
For more information about this event, email capp4kids@gmail.com.
By Ashley Worobec
October 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
My taper is in full effect and I’m enjoying the decrease in mileage.
 My run last Sunday. My longest run this week was 21km (I rounded up to 21.1km to make it an “official” half marathon distance), and it’s amazing to me that it actually felt like no problem. Just a few short months ago, a 21km run was quite daunting, and now here I am over the hump of marathon training, and 21km feels like a relatively easy effort.
It’s just incredible how our bodies can adapt to the demands placed on them, and how a challenge like this can be achieved with hard work and consistency. That’s what I hope people are gleaning from these training reports – that anything is possible! Set a goal, chase a dream, keep at it day after day…… and here I am, only 2 weeks away from the NYC Marathon!
I’ve been excitedly looking into the logistics of the actual race day, and you may find this part interesting. As you can imagine, it’s a challenge for race organizers to get more than 52,000 runners to Staten Island to the starting line! A few months ago, athletes were required to choose their race day transportation, the choice being a ferry or a bus. I chose the midtown Manhattan bus pickup, simply because the pickup location was closer to my hotel and it seemed like a warmer option, as I’m always cold and who knows what New York in November will bring weather-wise.
I’ve been assigned to a 6am bus pickup, and according to the website, the ride to Staten Island could take upwards of 90 minutes, depending on traffic. I am thankful that November 3rd happens to be the day after the Fall-back time change, so my 6:00am pickup will actually feel more like 7am. Once we arrive on Staten Island, we are separated into three Athlete’s Village areas – blue, orange, and green (I’m blue). At that point, we wait.
I am in the first wave of athletes, as I met the marathon’s time standard qualification rather than taking my chances in the general population lottery, so my start time is 9:40am. There are 4 waves; 9:40, 10:10, 10:40, and 11:10am; each wave will consist of roughly 13,000 runners.
 Prized piece of post race loot. Proudly worn by marathoners. We have also been asked to choose between a bag-check option and a post-race poncho, of which I chose the latter. This means that whatever I take with me to Staten Island will need to be left behind or carried on my person during the marathon; I will be wearing warm clothes over my running gear that will go into the charitable donation bins provided (these clothes are known in running circles as “throw-aways”), and anything I’ll want to eat during my wait will need to be brought with me as well.
There is food provided in the athlete’s village, but with a nervous pre-marathon stomach, I don’t want to leave anything to chance and I’ll be bringing some foods that I’m familiar with and know that my body can handle before a run. In exchange for this no-bag-check inconvenience, when I get to the finish line I will get the post-race poncho that is legendary in the marathoning world. Apparently this poncho is full-length and fleece-lined, and will be exactly what I’ll need to keep myself warm on the 2-mile walk from the finish line in Central Park back to my hotel room.
 The app that tracks Ashley’s progress. The NYC Marathon app- my data is live on there now. There is an option for people to track my progress on race day- the app will send alerts as I move along the race course. This “athlete tracking” is also what my husband will use to hopefully catch a few glimpses of me at various points along the race, as he navigates the NYC subway system.
 Something to keep her hair out of her face while running. The hat photo I’ve included here is simply because I’m starting to plan what I’ll wear during the race (weather-dependent of course), and I always, always, always wear a hat – it keeps my hair out of my face and the sweat out of my eyes. I’m really hoping November 3rd isn’t too cold and that I’ll be able to get away with this hat rather than a toque!
 Editor’s note: We are thinking about trying to convince Ashley to wear a toque – which we will donate. A nice white toque with a Montreal Canadiens crest on it. Do you think she will wear it?
By Ashley Worobec
October 7th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Overall it’s been another good week, however my right Achilles tendon started to give me some grief a few days ago. With long runs getting well up into the high-30+-kms, a few aches and pains here and there can sometimes be inevitable. Thankfully, I work in a sports clinic, so I got treatment right away (laser therapy is shown here) and it’s feeling much better.
 This is what laser therapy looks like. I had a drop-back weekend this weekend, so my run this morning was only 16km and I ran it completely pain-free.
Our peak run comes up this weekend- 38km on Thanksgiving Sunday morning, and you can be sure that I’ll take full advantage of that Thanksgiving dinner afterwards!
I am really happy with how September went, I was able to stay very consistent and run all 17 of my 17 scheduled runs. September was my peak month for mileage, and while I do have one more big week of training ahead of me, the majority of October is focused on tapering down the mileage and recovering to be ready for November 3rd.
 There was also a mix-in of gym workouts, weekly Pilates, and a couple of hot yoga classes. On the one hand, cross-training is still very important to keep me strong and not injured, however at this stage of marathon training, the cumulative effect of all the mileage becomes very real, and there’s a fine balance between doing too much and doing too little cross-training.
I have been doing private Pilates classes once per week for the past few months, and I really think it’s helped me to stay strong and be able to handle this marathon build.
 Easing the tension on an ankle The Fall has brought darker mornings with it, and as I start most of my runs around 5:30am, my light-up vest has become a staple in my wardrobe. On my solo runs, I’m often listening to podcasts, and lately the topic has been, you guessed it, the New York City marathon. I’ve been listening to race reports and course previews, and I’m starting to get really excited about the magnitude of this experience.
More than 52,000 runners will be there (we’re sent to the start line in waves to minimize congestion) and more than 1 million spectators are said to line the route!
 By Staff
October 16th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Complaints regarding the odour emitting from the plant at Harvester and Appleby had City staff and Council reaching out to Sofina Foods as well as the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks to find a resolution to this issue.
 A 150 year old corporation that plays a significant role in the Burlington economy. Should a slaughterhouse be in this location? Sofina Foods continues to investigate the origins of the odour and has been working with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Today, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks staff informed the City that on October 11, 2019, a ministry order was issued to Sofina Foods:
“The order requires the company to remove waste sludge from the property within three hours of filling a tanker trailer. We believe this is action that can be taken quickly to improve odours from the site.
The ministry has been responding to a large number of complaints about odours from the facility. Ministry staff have been to the property on several occasions to look into the sources of odours and to discuss actions the company is taking to control odours.
The order is an immediate measure to deal with one source of odours from the site. There are other sources of odours at the property, and the company has hired a consulting firm to assess sources of odours at the site. The ministry will continue to monitor the company’s actions and require it to identify and address its sources of odours.”
 In 2016 a tractor trailer flipped as it was about to enter the slaughterhouse – pigs were running everywhere for more than an hour. Residents are encouraged to report any odour near the area immediately to Sofina Foods at (289) 834-3543, reporting the time and location of the odour directly to Sofina will assist their investigation.
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks will also continue to respond to complaints about odours, residents may also report odour problems as soon as possible to the ministry by calling the ministry’s Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060, which is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Although the City of Burlington has no jurisdiction in the case of Sofina’s operations, members of Council and staff, including the Ward Councillor Paul Sharman, continue to be engaged in finding the cause of the odour and a speedy resolution.
That’s the city’s side of the story.
It took the Ministry how many days to tell the city they has issued an order? From the 11th to the 15th would make that four days.
That is a long time to hold your nose.
Sofina Foods operates the Fearman Pork operation in the east end. Why didin’t the city use the name most people recognize?
No word from the Mayor’s office – this is a big stink issue.
That factory shares the environment with a larger community. They know what the rules off and they should have done something immediately.
No excuse for this behaviour.
By Ashley Worobec
October 1st, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
After the heat and humidity of last Sunday’s long run, I welcomed the 14C at the start of this Sunday’s run.
 The 36km on my schedule I had 36km on my schedule, which is the longest run I’ve done since my last marathon in 2007. I was daunted, but hung in there with my training partners and we saw all of Oakville and most of Mississauga! Ha!
Most of our route was flat, along the lakeshore and surrounding areas, and I am really proud of this run.
I felt great, which gives me confidence in my training and my abilities, and I’m ready for next weekend’s “recovery week”, which has our long run capping out at 16km.
 The dog sets the pace. It’s amazing to me what our bodies can be trained to do – 16km is going to feel like a very short run to me, whereas only a few months ago it felt long. Perspective. We now have this recovery week, and then one more huge run (38km) on Thanksgiving Sunday, before we begin our 3-week taper.
A taper is a period of time where you focus on rest and recovery to allow your body to show up to the start line feeling strong and ready rather than depleted and tired. By that point, “the hay is in the barn,” as my former coach used to say, and you just need to reap the benefits of recovery and not overdo it; training gains are accomplished a few weeks after the actual training, so in theory, my fitness will peak on November 3rd for race day.
 Bulldog puppies yoga – a little easier than goat yoga. After my run, my family participated in a really unique event – puppy yoga! A local yoga instructor teamed up with a local breeder of bulldog puppies and they put on a yoga class while the little pups wandered about for snuggles.
My kids loved the puppies, and I loved the recovery aspect and the bonus of some puppy time. I feel great today, and that shows me that I need to make yoga/mobility more of a focus on Sunday afternoons following these long runs.
I’ve also been getting out a lot lately with our dog- a nice dog walk after a run helps to flush my legs and speed recovery (do you see a pattern here?) and of course gives me a huge mental boost; Fall is my favourite season.
Ashley Worobec is a chiropractor who specializes in sports medicine. A former Boston marathoner, Dr. Worobec often runs the Chilly Half marathon and Around the Bay 30K. She has lived in Burlington for ten years with her husband and their two children. She qualified to run in the New York City Marathon in November.
By Staff
September 30th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
October 1st is National Seniors’ Day and the city is going to celebrate with several free drop-in programs.
The objective is to honour and encourage older adults to connect and play which is important for a healthy, active life.
On this day, City of Burlington Adults 55+ Aquatics and Skating drop-in programs are free for participants aged 55 years and older.
 Golf goody: two adults aged 55 years and older can play for the price of one between 10 a.m. and noon. At Tyandaga Golf Course, two adults aged 55 years and older can play for the price of one between 10 a.m. and noon.
Community partners will be at various facilities with information on services and fun activities.
Older adults are encouraged to visit any of the locations listed below to meet community partners and be entered for the chance to win one of two Burlington Seniors’ memberships and one of two Parks and Recreation $25 gift cards.
 There is nothing fancy about the place. It’s simple, serves the purpose with a bus stop almost outside the door and plenty of parking. And the kitchen will rustle you up a sandwich if you’re hungry. The Seniors like it the way it is. Participating Locations:
• Aldershot Pool
• Tyandaga Golf Course
• Burlington Seniors’ Centre
• Tansley Woods Community Centre
To view a complete listing of drop-in programs CLICK here.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward tells us that “The older adult population of Burlington is vibrant and engaged, and a vital part of our communities. I encourage all adults aged 55 and older to take advantage of the free drop-in programs or to stop by the Burlington Seniors’ Centre to see our community partners, socialize and enjoy the day.”
Mandy Newnham, Supervisor of Recreation wants these senior’s “to come out to the variety of registered and drop-in recreational programs for Adults 55+ across the city to keep active and play every day.”
Ensuring Burlington is an age-friendly city is a commitment Burlington City Council made in the City’s 25-year Strategic Plan. Under the ‘A City that Grows’ direction, the City committed to developing an age-friendly strategy that supports aging in place. Ensuring sufficient Adults 55+ space for recreation and social activities is provided throughout the city is part of the plan.
 By Staff
September 28th,2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The city has responded to this article. See below.
There are washrooms on the north side of the Snack Shack that remain open throughout the year.
Readers are writing in advising us that the toilets on the Beachway are locked.
“Weather of 25 degrees Celsius and the doors are locked. I saw a dump, I thought maybe we had bears in Burlington.”
Another reader wrote that “toilets at the beach are locked, there are people defecating in the bushes.”
 Washrooms in the Beachway. Locked on a warm fall weekend: why? Not much in the way of bushes for people to drop their shorts in. It was a wonderful sunny day – a great time to get out and enjoy the weather.
Most people know there are some washroom facilities in the Beachway – why in weather like this would they be locked?
The washrooms are a bit of an embarrassment as they are – they are due for a major upgrade.
Does the city follow a rule that once we are into fall weather the washrooms are automatically locked – or maybe someone didn’t show up to unlock them.
Poor policy, lousy public service.
Come Monday we will ask Parks and Recreation and see what they have to say.
The city responds: The washrooms at Beachway Park were open on the weekend. The change rooms are now locked for the season and this may have caused the confusion. The change rooms are located in a separate building on the south side of the Snack Shack also have washroom facilities. The doors for the change rooms were locked while the adjacent washrooms remain open until the water is turned off for the season.
There are washrooms on the north side of the Snack Shack that remain open throughout the year.
By Ashley Worobec
September 24th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
 Not quite a happy face. This week was daunting because I knew I had a 33km long run to complete on Sunday morning. I haven’t run over 30km in a couple of years, and yesterday’s weather was very challenging.
 This is what 33 kms looks like. Our route included nearly 1200 feet of ascent (we did a lot of those escarpment hill climbs outside of Dundas!) and even though we started at 6:30am, the weather was unseasonably hot and humid. I didn’t feel well throughout the run and ran slower than usual to account for that.
Thankfully, my running group always has aid stations on the route, so we were met at two different points with water and Gatorade refills. Those were a lifesaver, and I made sure to over-hydrate on Saturday, leading into Sunday’s run, and then over-hydrate on Sunday afternoon to account for the extreme fluid loss.
I spent a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon on my couch with my legs elevated and my compression socks on.
 Prescription-grade compression socks are a must. I wear prescription-grade compression socks (15-20mm Hg is the mercury reading) on Sundays after my long runs and I really feel like they help my legs to recover. Elevating the legs also helps recovery, as does an afternoon nap!
 Veggies for their nutrients and protein I’ve been focused on my nutrition lately, really having to dial it in with the increasing mileage. My appetite has increased, and I’m focusing on lots of veggies for their nutrients and protein to offset the catabolic nature of distance-running (catabolism refers to the body breaking down muscle, which is what happens on these long endurance runs).
It’s very important to have an increased protein intake to offset this muscle loss and help with injury prevention.
New York is now less than 6 week away!
 Ashley Worobec is a chiropractor who specializes in sports medicine. A former Boston marathoner, Dr. Worobec often runs the Chilly Half marathon and Around the Bay 30K. She has lived in Burlington for ten years with her husband and their two children. She qualified to run in the New York City Marathon iin November.
By Ashley Worobec
September 17, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
How does a 40 year old medical professional explain to her two children that she going far away to run a marathon?
 Lacing up while daughter Casey looks on. Casey is now close to completing a 5k run. The 7 year old daughter, Casey and my 10 year old son Drew are old enough to start to understand all of the work that goes into a lofty goal like this. I have been running with them since they were babies and I would push them in our running stroller – back then, I would often load both kids into the double Chariot and off we would go for 5-10km.
As they got older, once in a while they would bike beside me, and now we’re at the point where they are starting to ask to come and run with me; I will sometimes finish my run, and then loop back home and pick them up and we’ll do a run around the block together.
We also regularly sign them up for local 1km kid’s races. With almost every event, there’s a kid’s race option, and they regularly do the Good Friday 1k “Bunny Hop” at Aldershot High School and the Moon in June kid’s race in downtown Burlington.
 It’s a family affair. They are getting to the age where a 5km race is within reach, so that’s what they’ll likely start doing quite soon. We almost always do Burlington’s Santa 5k in December, and have been since the kids were tiny. The picture of us a few years ago is a treasure; my daughter ran a lot of the 5km that year as a 3-year-old! I really believe that if kids see their parents being active, the likelihood of them being active too dramatically increases- the reality is, my kids just don’t know any different, we’ve always lived a really active lifestyle and my identity as a runner has always been a part of their lives.
Two other valuable lessons that my running taught me were:
1- qualifying for the New York marathon- I failed to meet the qualification standard twice, and finally reached it on my third try. The kids saw my tears and my disappointment after those two unsuccessful attempts, and they also saw my perseverance in trying yet again, and ultimately succeeding.
 No word on whether or not the dog participates in the actual run. 2- They’ve learned about relying on others for support. My husband was away this weekend and I asked my father-in-law to come over and watch the kids on Sunday morning while I went for my group run. He was with them for more than 3 hours so that I could fit my training in; I truly appreciate his support, and I think it helps the kids to see the importance of family and friends, and the magnitude of what I’m trying to accomplish.
 The data from the device on her wrist is a critical guide during every run. This weekend my training group did a 30km long run; I’ve only got 3 long runs left! I’ve got a 33km, 36km, and 38km to tackle before I start to taper and recover and prepare for the marathon!
By Pepper Parr
September 12th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
This is how the rubber hits the road when a resident takes a complaint to the city administration and then the elected member of Council.
It is not a pretty picture – the only bright spot is the patience the resident has shown.
The issue is with the property known as 2013 Paisley, a small bungalow that is said to have been vacant for two years.
 House is said to have been vacant for two years. Complaints made to bylaw department – no action so far. Mark Passalent writes Grant Ziliotto, the city’s Manager of By-Law Enforcement, Licensing & Animal Services informing him that the September 9 notice was issued in response to his complaint. It is presently tucked on top of the mailbox, next to the notice from June that was issued after he filed the first complaint for this year.
Complaints were previously filed in 2018, and notices issued.
Passalent was complaining about the vermin that were infesting the property since 2018. He asks:
“Please take the time to respond to the following questions and concerns. This property, its rats, rabbits, ragweed and goldenrod are directly behind and adjoining my yard.”
What does acting with the owner involve, and what is the status?
What is the time frame allowed for response in this instance?
Is the time period discretionary?
Does it decrease with each offence and each time the City has to act to maintain the property?
How long can we expect to wait for the property to be acted on once this period has expired?
Is there a City action plan for properties that are persistently derelict, or does the City only respond to complaints?
Shall I put a reminder in my calendar to file another complaint in 3 weeks?
Gary Parker whose home abuts the property asks: “ If in fact Grant is ‘actively working with the owner’ we have yet to see any positive result of that ‘action’. The staked black plastic barrier around the perimeter certainly hasn’t helped and in fact it’s contributed to the establishment of a more secure environment for the vermin that infest this property.
“I’ll be interested to see what kind of response you receive to this very clearly worded request. It would seem to any reasonable person that the situation at 2013 Paisley is extraordinary in that it has now been vacant for close to two years and its owner has basically thumbed his nose at all of us.”
He adds: “And just as a curiosity: why would they deliver a notice to an obviously vacant property – on multiple occasions? ( and then wait for a response?)”
 Lisa Kearns – Councillor for ward 2 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns who has been copied in on the correspondence responds to the concern about 2013 Paisley saying: “Appreciate your patience with my responding as I wanted to first connect with Grant Ziliotto who is aware of the situation and confirms that his team is actively working with the owner to address the concern. Grant indicates that as at most recently (Sept. 9/19), a notice was issued requiring the property be brought into compliance.
“In answer to your question about “Can you please explain to me what process and rights the City has in dealing with a residential property that remains vacant and derelict?”, once a complaint is received, an investigation follows, and if non-compliant, the owner is issued a notice requiring compliance within a certain time-frame. If the time-frame is not met, then the city will proceed with further enforcement. For more information, visit By-law Enforcement. To her credit Kearns did get on top of the problem as soon as she learned about it.
A close reading of the bylaw will tell you that the city can take whatever action is necessary if the property owner does not comply.
They did that with a resident who didn’t cut down natural flora on her property – they entered the property and cut down the offending plants.
There is another angle the area residents might consider. Get in touch with the Regional Medical Officer of Health – Hamidah Meghani and tell her that you think there is a public health issue here. That will get some movement.
Provincial legislation requires her to react promptly when there are public health issues. Get pictures of those rats if you can.
Related news stories:
By law officers tear plants out of a residents garden.
 By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
They are a seasonal threat that we have to pay close attention to.
 This is how the West Nile virus is transmitted.. The West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes
A batch of mosquitoes trapped last week in Burlington has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).
This is the eighth batch of WNV positive mosquitoes for Halton this year. The other batches of mosquitoes testing positive for WNV this year were in Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville.
They are clearly evident throughout the Region. The rains and pooling of water gives them a place to breed.
“Halton is committed to reducing West Nile virus in our communities through education and preventative programs such as larviciding,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “Until the hard frosts of fall set in, Halton residents should continue to protect themselves against mosquito bites and remove mosquito breeding sites.”
Urban areas are more likely to have mosquitoes that carry WNV. The types of mosquitoes that transmit WNV to humans most commonly breed in areas such as bird baths, plant pots, old toys, tires and other locations that hold water.
Residents can take the following steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:
• Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric.
• Avoid being outdoors from early evening to morning when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas.
• Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects, where possible. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.
• Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET or Icaridin.
• Make sure window and door screens are tight and without holes, cuts or other openings.
Locations of standing water sites that have had larvicide applied this year are available at halton.ca.
For more information about West Nile virus or to report standing water at public facilities, please visit halton.ca, call 311 or email wnv@halton.ca.
 By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s the time of year to drive around the province to take in some of the fall fairs and realize that the harvests will soon be taken in.
Corn is in the stores, the peaches are pretty good, early potatoes are being pulled up.
 Green bean plant that got away on itself. Appreciating and being thankful for what we have is part of the society we live in. Those who have plots in the several community gardens in the city will be out frequently picking what they planted some months ago.
The illustration for this mention is a bean plant that got carried away.
Tough to keep up with the growth.
By Ashley Worobec
September 2nd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette first met Dr. Ashley Worobec when she was part of the team that carried the Torch for the Pan American games in June of 2015.
We asked her to keep in touch – She did – told us she was going to do the New York City Marathon. We asked if she would keep a sort of diary of her training – she said yes.
Ashley has run marathons in the past – when she was a 27 year old adult with no children. This time around she is a 39 year old mother with two children and a sports therapy practice. Last week she took a break – now it is back to the grind. Here is the latest installment of the story.
We returned yesterday from a week’s vacation at Disney World and Universal Studios Florida. We had a wonderful time – my training took a backseat to family fun at the amusement parks!
 Disney World for the family – an a run along a canal while the kids sleep in. We walked everywhere and my step-counter read close to 20,000 steps per day! We did have one non-park day where I fit in a run along one of the paths on a Florida canal- I didn’t feel great on that run – heat and humidity were big factors, as was my diet. I tried to focus on healthy dining options this past week, but of course some extra treats on vacation work their way in and I could certainly feel it on that run!
But I focused on lots of water all week, and I didn’t stress about the two training runs that I missed, because I know in the grand scheme of things that two workouts are not a make or break in marathon training- and in fact, I don’t think my legs could’ve handled a run PLUS a day on my feet at Disney!
The backbone of marathon training is the long run, and I made sure to alter my schedule so that I ran my 26km long run last weekend before we left, and I ran my 28km long run this morning, the day after we got back.
 Data – let’s you record how well you are doing. Critical part of marathon training. This morning was a struggle, which I knew it would be, but I’m proud of myself for getting out there and getting the miles in. Marathon training really is a team effort, and I couldn’t be chasing this New York City marathon dream without the incredible support of my family – my husband and kids met me at the 10km mark and the 20km mark of my route today, with water and electrolytes (my brand of choice is Nuun; which is an electrolyte replacement tab that’s added to water and is very low in sugar) and some sweaty hugs of encouragement.
It really helped me to know that I had checkpoints to the family; my 10-year-old was quite impressed that “Mom can run for more than two hours!”.
 Route of the first run after the vacation break – with kids and husband at check points along the way. I’m now looking forward to back-to-school routines, and getting into some big, big mileage in September and October. I’m also thankful that next weekend is a drop-back week where my long run distance drops to 16km; it’s funny how perspective on that distance changes. At the start of my training, 16km felt monumental, and at this point it feels like a much-needed break!
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